MISSOULA -- The Montana Grizzlies won their final home non-conference game of the men's basketball season with a 77-70 performance against North Dakota at Dahlberg Arena on Friday.
Sayeed Pridgett and Kendal Manuel each scored 20 points while Timmy Falls added 15 to pace the Grizzlies on offense. From the floor, Montana finished 27 for 55 and 2 for 5 from deep.
Pridgett grabbed six rebounds, blocked two shots and added three steals.
Montana led 32-25 at halftime, but North Dakota stormed back to tie the game 36-36 four minutes into the second frame. But later in the half, Josh Vazquez knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 41-38 Montana, and after North Dakota responded to make it 41-40, the Grizzlies went on an 8-1 run, which included a dunk from Pridgett, to create some breathing room in the game.
North Dakota got within 52-48 with 7:10 to play after a pair of free throws from Marlon Stewart, but Manuel got hot and knocked down a pair of free throws himself before scoring on three step-back jumpers as Montana went on another run to make it 64-54 with 3:50 to play. Montana then iced the game with free throws down the stretch.
Stewart led North Dakota with 19 points. Jared Samuelson and Derrick Carter-Hollinger each added six points for Montana while Falls led the team with three assists and Mack Anderson tallied two blocks.
Montana forced 17 North Dakota turnovers.
The Griz (4-5) now have a long break before they hit the road on Dec. 18 to take on Oregon. North Dakota (4-6) will play at Eastern Washington on Sunday.
